Fw: tone and taste: Another Veiw

[David Love]

Dale:

I confess, I only followed part of the entire thread, but I agree with you 
that as a rebuilder you have to be faithful to your own concept of tone 
building.  I was more refering to the choices on hammer replacement 
especially when deviating from the manufacturers original intent.

David Love

>From: "Erwinpiano" <Erwinpiano@email.msn.com>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Fw: tone and taste: Another Veiw
>Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 07:29:52 -0800
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@hotmail.com>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 8:59 PM
>Subject: Re: tone and taste: was Fw: pianotech-digest V2001 #309
>
>
> > I think that we as technicians must be very careful to avoid presumption
> > about what constitutes ideal tone.  There are at least as many tastes in
> > tone as there are different kinds of piano.
>
>Although I agree with you on the above point the other side of the coin is
>that many have never tasted anything close to the sound of a well voiced or
>hammered piano. This requires someone to lead them down the path.  We all
>hear differently as you say and the sounds I was objecting to in an earlier
>post to Mark Wisner was started from another thread from Del F. where he
>and others were lamenting the ear piercing concept of sound coming from 
>many
>new pianos.  I did not think I was giving the impression that there is only
>one ideal piano tone but your caution is well taken.
>
>   David goes on to say
> > for example, replacing a set of hammers on an instrument where there are
> > different options that will produce different types of tone, I always 
>try
>to
> > put on samples to allow them to hear differences and discuss what it is
>that
> > they are hearing.  I am careful about imposing my own personal taste,
>though
> > I definitely have one, on them.  Often when I explain and compare and
> > contrast different types of sound that different hammers will produce, 
>the
> > customers will ultimately agree with me.  But sometimes they don't and 
>the
> > bottom line is that they will be playing the piano, not me.  I have had
>many
> > customers, excellent musicians, who prefer the sound of a Yamaha (albeit 
>a
> > well voiced one) to that of a Steinway.  Some people like a sharp attack
>and
> > others want to be able to get the tone to break up and distort at the 
>fff
> > end of the scale--they want that as part of their tonal palette.  Of
>course,
> > if I am rebuilding a piano on spec with the idea of selling it, I will
> > always make it according to my own taste--that situation is
>different. ----------David Love
>       The other piece of my point  is that I as rebuild guy, like new
>manufacturers, I have a concept of sound that I'm selling.  Our/My ability
>to customize that sound for an individual is what gives us our edge and is
>the life blood of my ability to compete with the sales of new pianos.  I
>can't count the times clients of all hearing persuasions have commented 
>that
>they just didn't like the sounds of any of the new pianos they hear (and
>many shopped alot).  After hearing a rebuild or remanufactured piano 
>clients
>comment, we didn't hear anything that sounded even close to that good at 
>the
>dealers showroom. If I'm not selling some thing different then I lose the
>edge to compete.
>   Where I /you can't compete with new pianos is in volumne.
>   My last quick point is most new pianos have unlocked and untapped
>potential for an increase in tone color. I know thats not a news flash but 
>I
>was not suggesting a hammer transplant for every piano just voicing first
>hammer transplant if needed.
>David your post is a well balanced and sensitive aproach and good advice 
>for
>all rebuilders/field techs. and a reality check for me!
>   Respectfully submitted-------       Dale Erwin
> > >From: "Erwinpiano" <Erwinpiano@email.msn.com>
> > >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > >Subject: Fw: pianotech-digest V2001 #309
> > >Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 19:56:57 -0800
> > >
>----- Original Message -----
> > >From: Mark Wisner
> > >To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > >Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 9:13 PM
> > >Subject: RE: pianotech-digest V2001 #309
> > >
> > >
> > >"Todays piano manufacturers have, well simply lost perspective... they
> > >continually explore the possibilities for making instruments more and
>more
> > >explosive in sound"
> > >
> > >If the above is true, it's only because that's what the folks buying
>pianos
> > >want.  Manufacturers respond to market conditions and  it's up to us as
> > >musicians and technicians to change the market if we think it needs
> > >changing.
> > >
> > >I have to say that's only partly trust in my experience my farther was 
>a
> > >Yamaha dealer for more than twenty years. In the beginning the grands
>were
> > >coming in nicely voiced and perhaps a little European sounding(who 
>knows
> > >what that means any more) mellowish. Sometimes people objected but when
>we
> > >could convince them to try it and let it break in ,the sound would
>develop
> > >in to a nice round but present sound and hold that tone for a
>considerable
> > >period of time.  Others would not buy it and insist on instant sound or
> > >they would buy the kawai which was a shade brighter at that time.
> > >
> > >  I have to confess that I have had  not one  client for many years who
>is
> > >crying for the instant on sound. They want something different and that
>is
> > >a full bodied sound with out the ear shattering power of the hard
> > >hammer(Petrified felt) syndrome. In order to compete with the big 
>corps.
>my
> > >pianos have to be well prepared but it's the sound that sells, and I'm
> > >finding great appreciation for the big fat present sound that musicians
>and
> > >hearing dominate people are attracted to. Private rebuilders may in 
>some
> > >small way be creating a small but quiet revolution against the sound so
> > >many of you are objecting to.
> > >    I find that many new pianos of all  makes are limited by the style 
>of
> > >hammer.  All  that design and engineering short circuited by concrete
> > >hammers. What's wrong with that picture??????
> > >    If new manufactured pianos want to keep up with the private 
>rebuilder
> > >they should offer a special line of Well voiced pianos. There is market
>for
> > >it and it's quite large Mark.
> > >
> > >   respectfully submitted
> > >  Dale Erwin
> >
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